 |
Berwick Rangers 2 v 1 Albion Rovers |  |
|
Berwick Rangers 2 v 1 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 25th March 2006 |
Attendance : 402
Scorers ~ Berwick Rangers : McNicoll (14), Haynes (89). Albion Rovers : Donnelly (Pen. 90).
Buoyed by their win in mid-week Rovers headed south to take on the 2nd placed team at a venue they won by a goal to nil earlier in the season. This time the game would best be remembered for the presence of Sir Bobby Robson in the stand and a female streaker.
The match started slowly, Andy Selkirk having the first notable move in 6 minutes but his low shot was blocked by the diving O'Connor. Cowan for the home side and Donachy for Rovers both came close before Berwick went ahead when McNicoll headed home a McLeish corner, Lennox tried to clear off the line without any luck.
Gordon Lennon dispossessed Haynes with aplomb although his subsequent distribution of the ball didn't go quite so smoothly. Scott Friel missing the target was followed by Murie having his name taken for a nasty foul on Donnelly.
Lennon was once more in the right place to intercept the ball while the Wee Rangers advanced. Then Lennon made a rare foray into the opposition box just prior to half-time were he was challenged by O'Connor who punched the ball to Bonnar whose shot was wide of the target.
Half-Time
A corner by McLeish found Cowan in the box and the resultant shot came very close indeed. Substitute Sean Paliczka went on a jinky run towards Rovers goal, he supplied the ball to Hutchison who gave it a little too much elevation to be a worry for travelling fans.
In 65 minutes several Berwick men passed up the opportunity to strike, deciding instead to pass, eventually Swanson decided enough was enough and proceed to slice the ball wide of it's intended target.
Lee Sichi ran into the Berwick penalty area from the far touchline only to go down after an apparent foul. The rotund Mr. Hardie rather harshly decided it was a dive and booked the youngster.
A Friel shot wide of the mark preceded Scott Chaplain controlling the ball well but ultimately shooting off-target. In 89 minutes Kevin Haynes headed home a Daniel Swanson cross to double his sides lead. This prompted a female dressed only in her skimpy underwear to run from the tunnel to the centre circle and back up the tunnel.
A minute later Lee Sichi was brought down in the homesters box prompting Mr. Hardie to award the penalty. Up stepped Ciaran Donnelly to smash the ball into the net which was the last action of the game.
Haynes and McLeish of the home side along with Friel and Chaplain of Rovers were booked during the game.
Summary
A poor game spiced up by Sir Bobby who said "You wouldn't believe which team was second bottom and (referring to Rovers' Gordon Lennon) your no.4 is something special with a bit of work he could go on to be a very good player" and the streaker. The home side may have guaranteed at least a play-off place and boosted their hopes of automatic promotion but they hardly outclassed Albion Rovers.
East Stirlingshire visit Cliftonhill next Saturday with Rovers requiring just 6 to hit their 5000th league goal, whether they manage it against the bottom side who've beaten Rovers twice this season remains to be seen.
Berwick Rangers : O'Connor, Murie, McGroarty,
McNicoll, Cowan, Horn (Swanson 62), McLeish, Connelly (Ramsay 85), Hutchison,
Haynes, Little (Paliczka 46). Subs Not Used : Manson, Connon.
Albion Rovers : McGlynn, Lennox, Noble, Lennon, Donnelly, Friel, Reid (Sim 65), Chaplain,
Selkirk (Sichi 56), Bonnar (Young 80), Donachy. Subs Not Used : McGhee, Quinn.
Referee : Colin Hardie.
Man of the Match - Gordon Lennon
